The goal of every website is to provide content and services to its visitors. You probably look at your website daily from your computer to make sure it looks great. But not all web browsers display the web in the same way. Little nuances between browsers can sometimes make sites unusable.

Things get even more tricky when trying to implement web video, which unlike HTML, has no “web standard” in how best to present it. You have to worry about users having QuickTime, Real Player or Windows Media Player installed, that their software is up to date, and that it doesn’t crash the user’s browser.

Video delivered through Adobe Flash has quickly become the best of both worlds, thanks to its cross-platform support and extensive developer community. If you are still embedding video using QuickTime or Windows Media Player, you are turning away visitors and potential clients.

1. Flash has an adoption rate of 98%

That means Flash is already installed for 98% of the people viewing your site.

98% Flash
83% Windwos Media Player
68% QuickTime
52% RealPlayer

While your PC viewers certainly have Windows Media Player installed with their OS, Mac users don’t usually have it. Same goes for QuickTime installed by default for Mac, and with some PC users having it.

2. High quality with low bandwidth

You have seen Flash video in use on YouTube. Most of it is a bit fuzzy and the audio might be out of sync. Don’t let this fool you. YouTube serves up millions of videos, and having them all at high quality would drain their bandwidth. But with proper optimization and encoding your Flash video on your own, it can look stunning.

3. Support for multiple video and audio codecs

Codecs are different algorithms used to encode video and audio to a smaller filesize while trying to sustain the quality of the original image. Codec support in Flash is based on Flash version the end-user is viewing with.

Most video codecs play in Flash Player 8 (98% install base) while newer HD video codecs were enabled in Flash Player 9 (95%). Knowing the right codecs to use, and their optimal bitrates is the key.

4. Custom player interface

Skilled Flash developers can whip up a custom interface to load and play your video. That way you’re not stuck with an ugly progress bar detracting from the actual content.

5. It can fit into any workflow

There are several flavors of Flash video encoding software on the market. Luckily, most of them will take any valid video file as input. But not so fast. Not all video files are created equally.

Getting the best quality from your Flash video can take a lot of trial an error if you’re not sure what settings to use. The optimal settings for a documentary are quite different from an action movie trailer.

I’m a visual learner, and I bet you are too. Our Portfolio uses Flash video to showcase our work, and we get a lot of comments on how great the video quality is. At the same time, each of our videos play back in real-time* with no annoying buffering. Because the last thing you want to give your visitors is a “Loading…” screen.

What are some sites you all have found that use Flash video particularly well? Be it in quality or unique presentation.

* = assuming you agree to be gouged by your high-speed Internet provider.

Categories: New Media, Software, Tech Corner